Zhuhai10: Comac forecasts 3,750 jets needed in China in next 20 years

China will require more than 3,750 new passenger jet aircraft in the next 20 years, says the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac).

Of these, 2,950 will be single-aisle jets while the remaining 800 aircraft will be twin-aisles, says Comac in its market forecast released at Airshow China in Zhuhai.

It also expects China to add more than 680 regional jets between now and 2029.

Comac says air traffic in China will grow at a rate of 7.7% annually over the next 20 years.

"The commercial jet fleet is expected to grow by 6.2% annually, and by 2029 will exceed 4,900 aircraft and comprise 14% of the global total, up from 8% in 2009," adds Comac.

Comac is developing the ARJ21 regional jet and C919 narrowbody, which will be China's first large passenger aircraft. It aims for the jet to enter into service in September 2016, following first flight in 2014, says Wu Yue, Comac's C919 programme general manager.

"After the first flight in 2014, it will take another 18 months or so for the aircraft to enter into service, which will put the entry into service in September 2016," says Wu.